Self-contained nebulizer and system

Abstract

A nebulizer system including a self-contained system including a nebulizer. The nebulizer includes a cylindrical housing having a bottom which has axially and centrally located gas conduit extending therefrom and terminating in a nozzle internally of said housing. The housing has mounted therein a funnel shaped wall the apex of which has a conduit of a wider dimension to encompass said nozzle in axial and spaced alignment therewith. The conduit terminates in a spray opening whereby liquid in a reservoir defined by the housing bottom and funnel shaped wall is picked up by the gas emanating from the nozzle. The liquid-gas mixture is discharged above the funnel wall against a protrusion and is distributed therefrom against an annular baffle depending from the top of the housing. The aerosol thereby produced is discharged through an opening into a conduit system for delivery to a patient directly or as a part of a ventilator or intermittent positive breathing apparatus of known types.

What is claimed is: 22 
     
       1. A nebulizer for converting liquid into aerosol, comprising: a housing having an open top end, said housing having a bottom, an elongated nozzle extending into said housing through said bottom said nozzle adapted and constructed to distribute gas under pressure into said housing, said housing being closed at said open top end with a fluid directing component having a funnel configuration extending downwardly forming an apex into said housing, said housing, said bottom and said fluid directing component adapted and constructed to define a liquid reservoir, said fluid directing component also having downwardly depending therefrom an open ended conduit adapted and constructed to encompass said nozzle in spaced relationship from the nozzle, said conduit means being adapted and constructed to communicate with the space between said conduit and said nozzle and said housing at the bottom portion thereof, said conduit extending upwardly above the apex of the funnel means and terminating in an end having a wall which has an opening therethrough in axial alignment with said nozzle, said funnel means being closed across substantially its widest opening with a cap, said cap having an egress port, the underside of said cap having a protrusion extending downwardly and terminating with a rounded end and in axial spaced relationship with said end of said conduit extending upwardly above the apex of the funnel means, whereby entrained liquid in said gas is distributed against said rounded end, the underside of said cap having a downwardly depending baffle surrounding said protrusion in spaced relationship therewith.   
     
     
       2. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein the baffle has a downwardly facing edge which is bevelled radially outwardly and downwardly. 
     
     
       3. The nebulizer of claim 2 wherein the baffle and protrusion are connected by an arcuate portion. 
     
     
       4. The nebulizer of claim 3 wherein the portion around the apex of the funnel means is supplied with at least one opening whereby liquid may pass downwardly therethrough. 
     
     
       5. The nebulizer of claim 4 wherein the bottom of the housing comprises a series of downwardly stepped portions. 
     
     
       6. The nebulizer of claim 5 wherein the nozzle terminates below said housing and said housing has feet means whereby the nebulizer may be supported on a flat surface. 
     
     
       7. The nebulizer of claim 6 wherein the housing is cylindrical and the nozzle, the said conduit and said housing are concentric with one another. 
     
     
       8. The nebulizer of claim 7 wherein the said portion around the apex is in a flat annular plane. 
     
     
       9. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein the nozzle has an upwardly facing opening of a smaller diameter than the opening of the upwardly facing conduit. 
     
     
       10. The nebulizer of claim 9 wherein the widest portion of the funnel means has an annular flange which is sandwiched between the cylindrical housing and the cap. 
     
     
       11. The nebulizer of claim 10 wherein means is provided internally of said conduit to retain said nozzle and said conduit of said funnel means in spaced relationship. 
     
     
       12. A patient gas-moisture delivery system comprising a tubular means being connected at one end to a supply of gas, a nebulizer mounted in operative communication with said tubular means, said nebulizer having a housing, said housing having an open top end, said housing having a bottom, an elongated nozzle extending into said said housing through said bottom, said nozzle adapted and constructed to distribute gas under pressure into said housing, said housing being closed at said open top end with a fluid directing component having a funnel configuration extending downwardly forming an apex into said housing, said housing, said bottom and said fluid directing component adapted and constructed to define a liquid reservoir, said fluid directing component also having downwardly depending therefrom an open ended conduit adapted and constructed to encompass said nozzle in spaced relationship from the nozzle, said conduit means being adapted and constructed to communicate with the space between said conduit and said nozzle and said housing at the bottom portion thereof, said conduit extending upwardly above the apex of the funnel means and terminating in an end having a wall which and an opening therethrough in axial alignment with said nozzle, said funnel means being closed across substantially its widest opening with a cap, said cap having and egress port, the underside of said cap having a protrusion extending downwardly and terminating with a rounded end and in axial spaced relationship with said end of said conduit extending upwardly above the apex of the funnel means, whereby entrained liquid in said gas is distributed against said rounded end, the underside of said cap having a downwardly depending baffle surrounding said protrusion in spaced relationship therewith; an exhaust valve body also being mounted in operative communication with said tubular means, said exhaust valve body comprising a tubular housing, said tubular housing having a top and an inner concentrically disposed tube, said tube having a portion extending upwardly above said top and said portion adapted and constructed to be in communication with a tubular conduit, said tubular housing and said tube terminating at the bottom in essentially the same plane, a flexible diaphragm positioned across said bottom of said tube and in fixed abutment against said bottom of said tubular housing, said diaphragm having a flange portion, a cap having an upwardly extending skirt, said flange portion of said diaphragm being sandwiched between said skirt and the bottom of said tubular housing, said cap and said diaphragm defining a space, said cap having a port means, said tubular housing having a port means, said bottom of said tube adapted and constructed to be a valve seat for said diaphragm; primary gas carrying conduit means operatively attached to said nozzle of said nebulizer for introduction of gas under pressure into said nebulizer and a secondary gas carrying conduit means connected at one end in operative association to said primary gas carrying conduit means and another end to said port means of said cap. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12 wherein said tubular means having said nebulizer and said exhaust valve body is supported by a hanger means, said hanger means comprising a cylindrical tube member extending radially from said tube, attachment means secured to said cylindrical member adapted and constructed to retain said tubular means, said attachment means including a radially extending portion attached to said cylindrical tube, said radially extending portion being spaced from said cylindrical tube by a slot facing in one direction, said radially extending portion having a slot facing in an opposite direction.